Automatic record changing apparatus



Oct. 20, 1942.

A. L. KNOX HA1. 2,299,633 AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS ARTHUR L. KNOX R 0a. 20, 1942. L, NOX ETA-L 2,299,633

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1940 4 She ets-Sheet 2 OGOOOO INVENTORS ARTHUR L. KNOX Oct. 20, 1942. A. L. KNOX ETAL AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1 940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

0a. 20,1942. A. 1.. KNOX ETTAL AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented' Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,299,633 I .w'rom'rro nnconn cnimomd mm'rus Arthur L. Knox and rim mm, Fort Wayne, -lnd., assignors to Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application August 16, 1940, Serial No. 35am 7' 1o cam, (01. 274-10) This invention relates to phonograph apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus adaptable for use with improved automatic record-changing apparatus of improved and simplified construc- An object of the present invention is to provide a compact record-changing apparatus of improved and simplified construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide position. The record-changing apparatus also 1 includes driving means, means for moving the record from the supporting means to playing position on the turntable, a movable couplingmember operatively associated with the record-moving -means, and a tripping mechanism for normally holding the coupling member out or the path of the driving means. The record-moving means is normally out of engagement with the driving means and is adapted to be moved into driving engagement therewith when the tripping mechanism is actuated to release the coupling member. When the coupling member is released by the tripping mechanism, it moves into-the path of the driving means and cooperates with the driving means to move the record-moving means into driving engagement with the driving means. A

member which is operatively associatedwith the supporting means is adapted to be moved to lock the coupling member in its normal position when the record-supporting means is moved to non supporting position.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, there is provided an automatic phonograph which includes driving means, movable actuating means adapted to be moved into driving relationship with the driving means, and a initiating member andis adapted to be in the ,path of the .driving.means when the initiating member is in its operative position. A stop which is provided on the initiating member is adapted to limit the movement oi theprojecting member relative to the initiating member when the driving member moves the projecting member in a first direction. The stopp n action of the stop permits the projecting member and the initiating 10 member to cooperate in moving the actuating means into driving relationship with the driving means.

For a.bette'r understanding oi the invention, together with other and further objects thereof,

reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. k

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the unplayed records removed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation oi the apparatus in Fig. 1, showing a group of records supported over the turntable and the record on the turntable in playing position, as viewed from line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the apparatus in Fig. 1, showing the cam arrangement for raising and lowering the pickup arm;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the underside of the apparatus; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the nontrip mechanism or intercepting device, as viewed from line 5-! oi Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a-partial top plan 'view oi the apparatus with the records removed and the record supports in the non-supporting position;

Fig. 7 is a partial bottom plan view of the apparatus, showing the record supports in non- 40 supporting position with the intercepting mechanism in engagement with the starting member of the tripping mechanism:

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the device which Prevents jamming of the record-chan in mecha- I nism: and

i 9 is a perspective view of one of the record supports with the cover removed, and with the pedestal Partially in section.

Fig. 10 is a view partly in section of the fricmovableinitiating member operativeLv associated tion clutch assembly mounted on the pickup arm with the actuating means. Th initiating member is normally in an inoperative position and is adapted to be moved into an operative position for moving therewith the actuating means. A

shaft oi. the record-changing apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the invention here illustrated embodies a phonograph apparatus including a base projecting member is pivotally connected to the plate I supporting a horizontally rotatable turntable 2, upon which is showna record 3 in position to be reproduced. A reproducer 4 is supported at the end of a pickup arm 5 which is pivoted at its opposite end about a vertical axis of a shaft 6 (shown in Fig. 3), which is rotatable within a pedestal I to permit the reproducer to move across the face of the record as the needle of the reproducer follows the groove of the record. Fig. 2 shows in greater detail the supporting means by which a stack of unplayed records 8 is supported above the turntable by diametrically opposite record supports 9-9. These record supports extend upwardly from the base plate I to which they are fixedly secured. Supporting brackets l and II are fixed to the upper ends of the record supports 9-9. Shelf portions lllA and HA on the brackets l9 and II engage opposite peripheral edge portions of thelowermost record of a stack when said stack is composed of 20 by a friction wheel. 24, shown by dotted lines ten-inch or smaller records. When the brackets- IO and II are rotated 90 degrees in a manner presently to be described, shelf portions DB and I IB (see Figs. 1 and 6) on these brackets support the twelve-inch or larger records.

Each one of the brackets l9 and H is mounted upon the upper end of a tubular shaft l2 which is rotatable about a vertical axis within the supports 99. Secured to the lower end of each one'of the shafts I2 is a sprocket wheel l3, more clearly shown in Figs. 4' and 'I. The sprocket wheels l3 engage a connecting means comprising a pair of toothed member I4 and 15, preferably in the form of levers, which are joined by a bar It. This connecting means or lever mechanism allows the record supports to be moved in'unison to any one of three positions: supportingposltion for the smaller records, supporting position for the larger records, and non-supporting position. This is accomplished by manually moving either one of the brackets l0 and II. When the brackets are in supporting position for a stack of either small or large records, they may be locked in a manner hereinafter to be described in greater detail.

As shown in Fig. 2, the turntable 2 is provided with a centering spindle" l8 which extends upwardly and terminates ina tapered portion [9. which extends from the top to a point slightly above the upper plane of the second lowermost record. The tapered portion greatly facilitates loading records upon the shelf portions of the brackets llland ll.

The spindle I9 is notched at 29, from a point below the plane of the lowermost record to a point slightly belowthe plane of the third lowermost record. It'is emphasized that, whilethe upper end of the spindle is tapered and notched as described above and shown in the drawings,

the rotation of the spindle will insure that the centering apertures of the records will remain aligned properly to position the records upon the supporting brackets I 0 and II. The movement of the notched spindle about its axisis timed with the reciprocatory movement of a plunger 2| -on' the bracket I0, presentlyto be described in greater detail. The plunger 2| is arranged to engage the edge of the lowermost supported record and move it laterally so' that the centering aperture of the record moves into the notch 20 of the spindle l8 and the opposite peripheral edge moves into a notch 22 provided in the bracket II. The notches 22 and 20 permit thelowermost supported record to move sufliciently far to the left so that the right-hand edge of the record drops oil the shelf portion of bracket I0.

65*,which also supports the turntable 2.

When thelowermost supported record has been moved laterally in the manner described, the record is freed from the shelf portion of the right-hand supporting bracket l0 and begins to fall at an angle to the turntable. The spindle I3 is provided with a reduced portion 23 which permits the released record to drop at an angle. When the record is at such an angle, the rotation of the spindle pulls the left-hand edge of the record from its supporting bracket, thus allowing it to be guided by the spindle I8 into playin position upon the turntable.

The left-hand supporting bracket H has a small spring-biased pin 23, which prevents the lowermost record from moving laterally by vibration or otherwise into releasing position prior to the time when the record is moved by the action of the plunger 2| provided in the bracket In.

As shown in Fig. 2, the turntable 2 is driven under the left-hand flange of the turntable, said friction wheel being operatively connected through a shaft 25 with an electric motor 26.

the record-moving means. The bracket I9 is provided with a pair of channels 21 and 28, the channel 2! guiding the reciprocatory plunger 2| and the channel 28 guiding a, reciprocatory plung- Each of the plungers is biased by respective springs 30 and 3| to the positions shown in Fig. 9. Each plunger is actuated and moved against the bias of its spring by a pin 32 which extends through the hollow shaft l2, and is arranged to be moved within the shaft I2 on a pivotal bearing 33 positionednear the mid-point of the pin 32. Fixedly secured to the lower end of, the pin 32 is a cam 34, normally biased by the action of one of the springs 39 or 3!, into the path of movement of a pin 35 provided on an actuating member 36, preferably in the form of a cam gear 36. The motion vof the cam 34 is guided by a channel 31 provided in a supporting bracket '38. The reciprocatory motion of the cam 34 is produced by engagement of the cam with pin 35 on the cam gear 36, this reciprocatory motion being transmitted by pin 32' and pivotal bearing 33 to one of the plungers 2| or 29.

When the bracket I0 is in the position shown in Fig. 9, the spring-biased plunger 2| is moved in response to the reciprocatory motion of the cam 34 and disengagesten-inch or smaller records from the shelf portion IDA; rotation of the bracket l9 through an angle of 90 degrees places the plunger'29 in position to be actuated by the at have been removed from the cam gear at 39,

the purpose of the multilation being to break the driving connection between the cam gear .36 and a driving member preferably in the formof a pinion gear 40, fixedly secured to a, shaft 4|. After each complete revolution of the cam gear 36, the driving connection with the pinion gear 40 is broken by the mutilated portion 39 and the cam gear 36 comes to a stop. One complete revolution of the cam gear 36 defines one complete cycle of record-changing operation, as will be evident later.

When a'record on the turntable has been-completely played, the movement of the pickup arm 5 initiates the operation of an automatic'tripping the cam gear 38 to-be moved sufiiclently far so that its teeth mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear 40. The cam gear 33 thereupon is driven through one complete revolution about its axis 42 and comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 4. As the cam gear 34 rotates, the pin 35 (see Figs. 3 and 4) on the gearengages the cam 34 (see Fig. 9) and, as a result, a record moves from the supports to playing position on the turntablefin the manner heretofore described.

The cam gear 38 is provided with a cam surface 4! shown in. Figs. 3 and 4. An arm 44, pivoted intermediate its ends on a bracket '45 which is fixed to the plate I, carries a roller 46 at one end which is biased by a spring 41 into engagement with the cam surface 43. As the roller 4 follows the cam surface 43, it moves thelefthand end of the arm 44 upward. This movement raises a pin 48 vertically in the hollow shaft 6. The upper end of the pin 48 engages the underside of the pickup arm and raises'the reproducer 4 from the surface of the record 3.

As appears in Figs. 3 and 4, a lever 43 is affixed to the lower end of the hollow shaft i, to the upper end of which is attached the pickup arm 5. A horizontal movement of the lever 45 effects a corresponding movement of the pickup arm I and vice versa. The free end of the lever 40 supports a pin 50 which moves within an aperture 5! in the heel of an L-shaped lever 52 (Fig. 4). The aperture Ii is sufficiently large so that the pin 5| may move freely with the lever 49 over a wide arc:corresponding to the movement of the pickup arm while playing a shown in Fig. 3), moving said lever in record. The L-shaped lever 52 is pivoted at 53.

A toe 54 of the L-shaped lever 52 engages a cam surface 55 provided on the cam gear 36. This toe I4 is continuously biased toward the cam surface 55 by a spring 50. After the reproducer on the pickup arm has been raised from the surface of the record in the manner previously described, and as the cam gear 36 continues to rotate, the cam surface 85 moves the L-shaped lever 52 in a counterclockwise direction about its axis 53 and causes the right-hand side of the aperture 5| to engage and drive before it the pin 50. The pin moves the lever 49, and therewith the pickup arm, in a radial direction away from the center of the record. The cam surface 55 is so shaped that the L-shaped lever 52 ceases its counterclockwise rotation at a time when the pickup arm has been moved beyond the edge of. the turntable and the records thereon.

vAfter the pickup arm has been moved beyond the peripheral'edge of the turntable and the records thereon, the cam gear it continues to rotate and pin It thereon engages the cam 34 (see Fig. 9) to cause the bottom supported record to be dropped intoplaying position upon the turntable in-the manner. previously described. Shortly thereafter, the cam surface SI has moved to .a point where the toe 4 of the L-shaped lever I2 begins to move to theright (looking at Fig. 4) underthe action of the spring 50. When this occurs, the left-hand edge of the aperture ii engages the pin I. and moves the pin, the lever 44 and the pickup arm to a position where the reproducer needle at the end of the pickup armisovertheinitialgrooveoftherecord about to be played. on the turntable.

Bythistimethecamsurface onthecam gear has-rotated to the position shown in Fig. 3. when the contour of the cam permits the lefthandend ofthelever44todropvertically,therev the inner groove member, preferably in the after arereturned in a which has secured to it a'clutch 51 (Figs. 3 and .10), the detailed construction of which will be described hereinafter, which frictionally engages a lever 5|.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, a lever 59 is pivotally supported at one end for rotation about the shaft 6. the pickup arm moves toward the center of the record, the clutch 51 moves the lever 53 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4). The lever 58 engages the, side of the lever 58 (more clearly clockwise direction. The free end of the lever 59 preferably is turned downwardly at a right angle and engages the lower end of a lever or latch 60 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to base plate I. The upper end of the lever 00 engages the upper end of an initiating or coupling form of a lever Gi which also is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to the cam gear 36, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The upper end (Fig. 4) of lever 6| tends to move away fromthe cam gear 36 and the lower end tends to move toward'the mutilated gear 36, so as to position a non-jamming or projecting member which is preferably in the form of a spring-biased catch 62, presently to be described in greter detail, into the path of movement of an extending member preferably in the form of a pin 63 which is fixed to the same shaft that supports the small pinion 40 and the turntable 2. a 1 Each time the cam gear 36 makes a complete revolution, the upper end of the lever 6| engages the upper end of lever 60, which is so shaped that its engagement with the lever it causes the upper end of the lever 4| to move toward the surface of the cam gear 36 ii to move out of the path of the pin 43.

As the pickup arm approaches the inner groove of a record, it moves the levers 88, 59 and it in a counterclockwise direction .(Fig. 4). The lower end of thelever 60 carries a leaf spring 64 which lies in the path of a cam 35 which is shaft 4i. spring 64 levers 53 fixed to the The cam 68 vperiodically strikes the and moves the lever 60, and with it the and II, in a clockwise the pickup arm by virtue 'of the clutch 51. when theneedle atthe end of the pickup arm moves into the eccentric groove customarily provided as of the record, the lever II can cam I in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) only against the biasing action of a spring 66, as will presently be shown in greater detail when the construction of the clutch 51 is considered. when this occurs, the cam i8 tem-, porarily may move the levers 60, I! and 58 clockwise (Pig. 4) but these levers immediately therecounterclockwise direction by the action of the spring t. on the lever 58. The return movement the lever Cl is moved lever I.

be moved by the out of engagement with the The-latter lever thereupon moves in a Thus, as reproduction goes on and a counterand the lower end of the lever direction (Fig. 4), the lever 5| changing its position with respect to is sufficiently great so thatv vertical plane to position the spring-biased catch 62 adjacent a boss'66A formed on the topsurface of the cam gear 36 and into the path of the pin 63. The boss 66A serves the purpose of getting a firmer engagement between the pin 63; and the catch 62 on the lever 6| when the con- -nection between lever 6| of the cam gear 36 is loose. As the pin 63 rotates, it engages the catch "62 and moves it and the lever 6| in a horizontal the turntable and the records thereon during a record-changing cycle, it moves the lever 58 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) into engagement with the stop 61. The engagement between the lever-58 and the stop' 6'! is effected. however, before the pickup arm has swung to its outermost position. The lever 58 changes its angular position relative to the pickup arm through the slipping connection of clutch 51. This positions the lever 58 well forward of the pickup arm as the pickup arm is returned toward the center of the. record and insures positive engagement of the elements 58, 56 and 66 prior to the time when the needle of the reproducer is in the innermost groove of the record.

The details of construction of the clutch 51, previously referred to in connection with Figs. 3

and 16, now will be described. A flanged sleeve 66 is afiixed to the hollow shaft 6 which also supports the pickup arm 5. A plate I6, to which are fixed the lever 58 and an ear 1|, is mounted in frictional relationship with the fiange'portion of the sleeve 69. A suitable fiber washer" is slipped over the plate 16. A plate I3 with a turned-down ear I4 is placed over the fiber washer 12. A spring washer I5 is placed over the plate 13. A flanged cover member 16 is screwed on the sleeve member 66 sufliciently far so that the bottom of the flanged portion of cover 16 rests upon the spring washer 15. The spring washer l5 maintains an even frictional engagement between the plate 16 and the fiber washer [2 when the members 68 and 16 are screwed together. The spring 66 is connected to .the outer flange of the member 69 and the'turned-down ear 16 of the plate'13. The turned-down ear 14 and the ear H are in such relationship that when the pickup arm reaches the inner groove of the record, the movement of the levers 58, 59 and 66v is reversed by the cam 65 and the ears 1| and I4 are moved in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4)

against the tension of the spring 66. When the cam 65 moves out of relationship with the levers 58, 59 and 66, the tension of spring 66 moves levers 58, 58 and 66 with enough force to release the upper ,end of the lever 6| from engagement with lever 66, thus initiating a record-changing cycle.

When the record-supporting brackets i6 and H r are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the shelf portions |6A and HA engage the peripheral edges of ten-inch or smaller records and support the records 'above the turntable 2. When the brackets l6 and H are rotated manually 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction, theshelf portions I613 and I I3 engage the peripheral edges of twelve-inch or larger records and support the records above the turntable 2.

As shown in Fig. 4, the brackets .l6 and H are locked in a selected position by the provision of a locking cam 11 secured to the lower end of the shaft. I2 which supports on its upper end the bracket The cam 11 is provided with notches l8, l9 and 86 which are engaged by a pin 8| fixedly secured to the right-hand end of a lever 62; The lever 82 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to plate I. -A spring 83, which is aflixed to the left-hand end of the lever 82, normally biases the pin 8| into continuous engagement with one of the notches 18, I8 and 86. When notch 18 engages th pin 8|, the brackets I6 and H are in position to support the smaller records;

when the notch 19 engages the pin 8|, the brackets in and I are in position to support the larger records; and when the notch 86 engages the pin 8| the brackets l6 and II are out of supof the lever 52 insures that the pickup arm is returned properly to the initial groove of the large records. Thus it is evident that the manual positioning of the brackets l6 and II for supporting either a stack of smaller or larger records automatically sets of the mechanism for positioning the pickup arm and reproducer in proper position to engage the initial groove of the size record about to be played. 3 a

The detailed construction of the non-trip or intercepting mechanism is shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings. Referring particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, the intercepting device is shown to comprise a finger 85 provided on the toothed lever l4 shown in the upper portion of Fig. 4. The finger 85 is provided with a tumed-up end 86 (Fig. 5) which is arranged to engage a The engagement of the elements 85 and 811s not effected when the supporting brackets l6 and II are moved to supporting position for either the smaller or larger records. When the supporting brackets are rotated manually to non-supporting position as shown in Fig. 6, the pin 8| on the lever 82 (Fig. 4) engages the notch'86 on the cam I1 and thus the brackets l6 and II are locked in the non-supporting position.

When the supporting brackets l6 and II are moved to the non-supporting position, the levers l4 and I5 are moved in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 7 and the finger 85 on the lever I4 is moved in a clockwise direction sufiiciently far to engage the member 81 on the lever 6|. The engagement of the elements 85 and 81 prevents the movement of the lever 6| in a vertical plane. This insures that the lever 6| will not be tripped when the pickup arm reaches the end of a record and the lever 66 is moved out of engagement of the lever 6| in the mannerpreviously described. It is thus evident that the manual positioning of the brackets Ill and II in non-supporting position automatically locks the starting lever 8| so that it will not initiate a record-changing cycle when the pickup arm reaches the inner groove of a record on the turntable. This allows for manual operation. of the phonograph apparatus with any size records.

The spring-biased catch or non-jamming member 82, previously referred to in connection I with Figs. 4 and 7, will be described now in greater detail. Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the member 82 is pivoted on the lever 8| at 88. An ear or stop 88 is formed on the lever 8|, and an car 98 is formed on the catch 82, The member 82 is normally biased by a spring 8! to the position shown in Fig. 8. When the tripping mechanism is initiated and the member 82 with lever 8| moves in a vertical plane toward the cam gear 38 as previously described,

a turned-up end 92 on the member 82 moves into the path of the pin ea. When the pin a: by rotation engages the turned-up end 82 on member 82, the opposite end of the member engages the ear 88. The engagement of the catch 82 with the ear 83 prevents the catch from moving about its pivotal point 88, and thereupon it engages the boss 88A which gives the lever 8| a stifl'ening action in transmitting motion to the cam gear 38. This gear is moved suiiiciently far to cause turntable aiiixed thereto, as shown in Fig. 2, the

-pin 83 (Fig. 7), also fixed to the shaft 4|, moves into engagement with the member 82. Continued movement of the pin 83 will cause the member 82420 move in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 7) about its pivotal point 88 against the biasing action of the spring 8| (Fig. 8). -When the pin 83 is rotated sufllciently far to move beyond the turned-up end 82 of the member 82, the member is thereupon moved by the biasing action of the spring 8| to the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. This reverse movement of the member 82, as has been explained above. prevents the mechanism from jamming when the turntable 2 is manually rotating in a direction opposite lts normal direction of rotation. v It is thus evident that the member 82 may be moved in a clockwise direction (Fig. 7) and cause the lever 8| to move the cam gear 38 sufflciently far so that its teeth will mesh. with the teeth of the pinion gear 48. It also is evident that member 82 may be moved in a counterclockwise (Fig. 7) direction against the biasing action of the spring 8! without tripping or jamming the mechanism.

In addition to the automatic trip mechanism previously described there is also provided a manual trip mechanism which is operated by a sprin biased trip lever 33 (Fig. 4). The lower end of this lever is bent to extend upwardly through a slottedapertureinthebaseplate I. Tothisbent endof the lever 83 is amxed-a knob 88 (Pig. 1). The lever 83 is normally biased by a spring 85 out of engagement with the. turned-over lower end of the lever 88. but the lever 83 may be manually moved about an axis to engage-the lower duction of the record Just placed takes place.

end of lever 88, thereby moving the upper end of the lever out of engagement with the lever 8| manually to trip the mechanism and initiate a record-changing cycle.

Th general mode of operation of the recordchanging apparatus will now be described. After a stack of records has been placed upon the brackets l8 and il (Fig. 2) and a record 3 has been placed in playing position upon the turntable 2, the pickup arm 5 ismoved manually to place the needle of the reproducer 8 in the startinggroove of the record.

The pickup arm 5 moves inwardly as the needle ofthe reproducer follows the spiral groove of the record and eventually reaches the inner groove where the automatic tripping mechanism is operated by the responsive movement of the levers 58, 58 and 80 (Fig. 4) to the pickup arm 5, whereby thelevers 80 and 8| disengage and the member 82 moves in-a vertical plane into the path of the pin 83 provided on the shaft ll of the pinion gear 48.

Engagement of the pin 53 with the member 82 on the lever 8| causes the cam gear 38 to be rotated until the teeth of this gear mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear 40, after which the cam gear 38 is driven by the pinion 40 through a record-changing cycle.

As the cam gear 38 rotates, the cam surface 43 (Figs. 3 and 4) moves the lever 44 and raises the pickup arm oil of the record. Continued movement of the cam gear 38 causes the cam surface 55 (Fig. 4) to move the L-shaped lever 52 and therewith the' lever 83 to swing the pickup arm beyond the edge of the records on the turntable.

Shortly thereafter, the pin 35 (Fig. 9) on the cam gear 38 engages the cam 38 and moves the latter to cause a corresponding movement of the plunger 2| (or 28, depending upon the setting of the brackets l0 and H). The plunger 2i engages the edge of the lowermost supported record and moves this record in a direction normal to the axis of the spindle ,1l3 (Fig. 2) sufllciently far so that the record drops of! of one supporting bracket. The rotation of the spindle then pulls the opposite edge of the record ofl. of the other supporting bracket. The completely released record is guided by the spindle l8 into playing position upon the turntable. v

The cam gear 38 has by this time rotated sufllciently far so that the cam surface 55 (Fig. 4) allows the L-shaped lever 52 to move clockwise under the biasing action of the biasing spring 58. to return the pickup arm to a position where the needle is over the starting groove of the record placed upon the turntable.

- At this time, the cam surface 83 (Fig. 3) has rotated to the point where the lever 44 permits the needle of the reproducer to descend into engagement with the record. Immediatelythereafter. the cam gear 38 comes to rest in the posi-' tion shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings and reproon the turntable The next and following cycles of automatic qperationsare initiated by the automatic trip mechanism eachtime the reproducer needle moves to the inner groove of the record. After the last record of a stack is completely played, the mechanism is shut of! and the pickup arm is moved manually away from above the records upon the turntable 2.

The brackets II and II then are moved manuallytotheunloadingpositiomoutofthewaycf' the reproduced records. The'movement oi the brackets l and II causes the finger B to move into engagement with the member 81 on the lever Bl. By leaving the brackets l0 and ii in the unloading position (as shown in Fig. 7), any size records may be played and the engagement of the finger 85 with the member 81 will prevent the trip lever 6| from lowering the catch 62 in the path of the pin 63, Thus, when the record supports are in a non-supporting position andthe pickup arm reaches the inner groove that is being played, the tripping mechanism will not operate automatically. Instead, the pickup arm will have to be moved manually to beyond the edge of the I record. This arrangement converts the automatic mechanism into a manually controlled ber is moving in a first direction; a stop on said initiating member for preventing said projecting member from pivoting when said extending member engages said projecting member while it is moving in a second direction whereby said initiating member is moved and said record-moving means is brought into driving relationship with said driving member.

3. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprisinga rotatable shaft having a driving member and an extending member; a rotatable turntable; movable record-supporting means for supporting a stack of records, said supporting means being adapted to be moved manually into a non-supporting position; means for moving a record from said supporting means to playing aimed in the appended claims to cover all such I changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. i

What is claimed is: 1. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprising a turntable; movable record-supporting means for supporting a stack of records, said supporting means being adaptable to be moved manually into a non-supporting position; a rotatableshai't having a driving member and an extending member; meansincluding a cam member for moving a record from said supporting associated with said pickup arm and said cam member, said tripping mechanism including a pivotal member connected to said cam member and adapted-to be released into the path of said extending member when said pickup arm reaches the tripping groove of a record on said turntable for cooperating in moving said cam member into driving relationship with said. driving member;

and a member operatively associated with said supporting means and being adapted to lock said pivotal member from moving into operative position when said supporting means is moved to a non-supporting position.

2. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft having a driving member. and an extending member; a rotatable turntable; means adapted to be driven by said driving member for moving a record to playing position on said turntable; a pickup arm for,-

.playing a record on said turntable; a tripping mechanism operatively associated with said pickup arm; an initiating member operatively associated with said record-moving means, said initiating member being adapted to be held out of operative position by said tripping mechanism when a record is being played on said turntable and being adapted to be released by said trip ping mechanism when said pickup arm reaches the tripping groove of a record on said turntable; a spring-biased projecting member pivotally mounted on said initiating member. and being adapted to move into the path' of said extending supporting means being adaptable to be movedmember when said initiating member is released by said tripping mechanism, said projecting member being pivoted when said extending memposition on said turntable; a pickup arm for 00- operating with a record on said turntable; trip-.

ping mechanism operatively associated with said pickup arm; an initiating member operatively associated with said record-moving means, said initiating member being adapted to be held out of operative position by saidtripping mechanism when a record is being played and being adapted member operatively associated with said recordsupporting means and being adapted to be moved to lock said initiating member when said recordsupporting means is moved to a non-supporting position;

4. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprising a 'turntable; movable record-supporting means for supporting a stack of records, said supporting means being adapted to be moved into non-supporting position; driving means; means for moving a record from said supporting means to playing position on said turntable and adapted to be moved into driving relationship with said driving means; a movable coupling member operatively associated with said record-moving means and normally being held out of the path of said driving means; a tripping mechanism for releasing said coupling member into the path of said drivingmeans whereby said record-moving means is moved into driving engagement with said driving means; and a member operatively associated with said supporting means and being adapted to be moved to lock said coupling member in said'normal position when said supporting means is moved to said non-supporting position.

5. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprising a turntable; movable record-support-- ing means for supporting a stack of records, said into a non-supporting position: driving means; means including a cam member for moving a record from said supporting means to said turntable, said cam member being adapted to be moved into driving relationship with said drivin associated with said cam member and bein adapted to move into cooperative relationship with said driving means for moving said cam member into driving relationship with said driving-means; a'latch for holding said coupling tive relationship with said driving means when said supporting means is moved to nonsupporting position.

6. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprising a turntable; a pickup arm for cooperating with a record on said turntable; movable record-supporting means for supporting astack of records, said supporting means being adaptable to be moved into a non-supporting position; means for moving arecord from said supporting means to said turntable; movable cam means operatively associated with said pickup arm and said record-moving means and being adapted to be moved to carry out a'record-chan'ging cycle; a tripping mechanism operatively associated with said pickup arm and including a coupling member, said coupling member being adapted to move to cooperate with said driving means when said pickup arm reaches the tripping groove of a record on said turntable for moving said cam means Y to carry out said record-changing cycle; and a member operatively associated with said supporting means and being adapted to lock said coupling member from moving into said cooperative position with said driving means when said supporting means is moved to a non-supporting position. i 7. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprising a turntable; a plurality of movable record supports for supporting a stack of records; connecting means operatively associated with said plurality of record supports for permitting their movement in unison into and out of record-supporting positions; driving means; means including a cam=memberior moving a record from said supports to said turntable, said cam member being adapted to be moved into position; a projectng member pivotally connected to said initiating member and being adapted to be in the path of said driving means when. said initiating member is in the operative position; a stopon said initiating "member for limiting the pvotal movement of said projecting member relative to said initiatingmember when said driving member moves said projecting member in a first direction whereby said actuating means is moved'into driving relationship with said driving means.

9. In an automatic phonograph the combination of driving means; movable cam means normally out of driving engagement with said driving means and adapted to be moved into driving engagement therewith; a movable initiating member operatively associated with said cam means'and being adapted, when in an operative position, to .move said cam means therewith, said initiating member normally being in an inoperative position; a projecting member connected to said initiating member to move relative thereto and being adapted to be in the path of said driving means when said initiating member is in the operative position; a stop on said imitating member for preventing the movement of said projecting member relative to said initiating member in one direction; a spring for normally holding said projecting member against said stop; a tripping mechanism for releasing said initiating member into said operative position to move saicL projecting member into the path of said driving means, the movement of said driving means in a first direction moving said projecting member against the tension of said spring and the movement of said driving means in a second direction moving said pro jecting member with said initiating member whereby said cam means is brought into driving engagement with said driving means.

10. man automatic phonograph the combinationoi' driving means; movable cam means nordriving relationship with said driving means; a

movable coupling member operatively associated with said cam member and being adapted to I move into cooperative relationship with said.

driving means for moving said cam memberinto driving relationship with said driving means; a latch for holding said coupling member out 013 cooperative relationship with said driving means; means rorrmoving said latch out of en+ gagement with said couplingtmember; and a member operatively associated with said connecting means and being adapted to lock said coupling member from moving intosaid cooperative relationship with said driving means when said supports are moved to non-supporting position. 8. In an automatic phonograph the combination of driving means; movable actuating meansv mally out of driving engagement with said driving means and adapted to be moved into driving engagement therewith; a movable initiating member operatively associated with said cam means for moving relative thereto in a plane second position for moving therewith said cam means; a stop on said initiating member; a movable projecting member connected to said initiating member for moving relative thereto and being adapted to be brought into the path of said driving member when said initiating member is moved to said second position, said projecting member when moved by said driving means relatlve to said initiating member in a first direction vbeing adapted to move against said stop and thereafter I move therewith said initiating member and said cam member whereby said cam member is moved into driving engagement with said driving means; a tripping mechanism for releasing said initiating member from said first to said second position.

ARTHUR L. KNOX. 

